Clasp



(No Model.)

M. V. HAMMA'GK.

CLASP.

No. 418,614. Patented Dec. 31, 1889.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN V. HAMMAOK, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

' CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,614, dated December 31, 1889. V

Application filed October 12, 1889. $eria1No. 326,768. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. I'IAMMACK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain, new and useful Improvements in Garment-Clasps; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clasps for garments, which may be used in place of buttons, or wherever it is desirable to clasp together two pieces of fabric or other analogous material.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, light, and ornamental clasp or fastening device, the employment of which will avoid the use of ordinary buttons, and consequently the necessity of forming button-holes and my invention consists in the combination of two plates proyicled on their adjacent sides .with projecting teeth and springs, said plates being connected to each other by a central plate having spurs and projecting lugs which contact with the springs, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a clasp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing one portion of the clasp Y secured to a fabric or piece of cloth and the other port-ion open.

A and A refer to the exterior plates, which are preferably made in the form of buttons, the inner end of the plate retaining in place a disk 0,, which is provided with a series of projecting teeth which extend from said plate. This disk to has struck up therefrom on each side of the opening I) raised portions having perforations which receive pintles c, which also pass through a lug B, which is formed integral with the connecting-plate 13', this connecting-plate having a similar lug formed on the opposite sides thereof.

Between the disks a and the outer portions of the button are placed flat springs 0, against which the cam-shaped ends of the lugs abut, so that by the action of said cam-shaped lugs and the spring the clasp will be held positively in either an open or closed position, and the teeth or prongs which are formed upon the disks or plates A and the connecting member B are arranged in alternate series both laterally and longitudinally, and these teeth are curved on one side, while the opposite sides are arranged as shown, so that when they enter the meeting edges of the fabric they will hold the same securely in position and not have a tendency to ride upon the teeth. They also have a tendency to make sharp bends in the fabric, which will occasion" a more secure attachment.

By the construction herein described and shown two oppositely-extending spring-jaws are provided, and this device may not only be used for holding garments in place of buttons, but can also be used for holding one edge of a cuff-or collar to the wrist or neck band of a shirt or as a necktie-retainer.

The device may be ornamented and furnished in different sizes.

I am aware that prior to my invention clasps for garments having a central plate with teeth and external sections pivoted thereto are not broadly new, and I do not therefore claim such construction, broadly, as this construction is shown in Patent No. 78,505; but

What I claim as new is In a clasp for the purpose set forth, the combination of exterior portions A and A, each inclosing an independent spring and provided with aplate or disk having an opening, adjacent to which are struck-up portions to form ears,'a connecting-plate having near its ends on opposite sides alternately-arranged projecting lugs pivoted in said ears, the ends of said lugs being cam-shaped and abutting against the spring of the adjacent portion A A, together with spurs formed on the adjacent faces of the said portions A and A and intermediate plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN V. HAMMAOK.

Witnesses: I

HORACE BROWNELL, W. H. ROBERTS. 

